Imported electronics were found in the downed Kalibr cruise missiles

This was reported by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence following an analysis of downed missiles carried out by military engineers and scientists from the defence ministry.

The study showed that since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Kalibr family of missiles has undergone at least two significant changes, which may affect both the nature of their use and the effectiveness of countermeasures against such threats.

The first change was the introduction of a cluster warhead. Whilst the missiles used by russia from 2022 until early 2026 were equipped with high-explosive fragmentation warheads, experts observed the use of cluster munitions for the first time in samples shot down this spring.

The Ministry of Defence notes that this decision allows for an increased area of destruction and enhances the effectiveness of the missiles against dispersed targets. This refers, in particular, to striking targets that cannot be covered by a single explosion from a conventional warhead.

Another unexpected change was the return to an imported electronic component base. Between 2023 and 2024, russia gradually attempted to replace foreign components with domestic equivalents during the production of the ‘Kalibr’ missiles.

However, an analysis of the on-board digital computer of a missile manufactured in 2025 revealed that the manufacturer is once again using imported components. This may indicate a failed attempt to switch entirely to russian electronics.

The Ministry of Defence suggests that the use of domestic components may have negatively affected the missile’s guidance accuracy. This is precisely why the developers likely reverted to tried-and-tested foreign solutions, despite sanctions restrictions.

Ukrainian experts emphasise that the study of debris and components from downed missiles is not only of scientific value but also directly contributes to improving the effectiveness of air defence.

As Ukraine’s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov previously noted, the protection of Ukrainian airspace remains one of the key priorities of the state’s defence plan, and the study of enemy weapons allows for the faster adaptation of countermeasures.

In addition to the technical characteristics of the missiles themselves, the Ministry of Defence has identified the manufacturers of the electronic components, as well as the chief designers and managers involved in the production of the ‘Kalibrs’. The data obtained is being passed on for further use within the framework of the sanctions policy against the russian defence-industrial complex.

Source: Militarnyi